Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As I have stated there has been a large increase in staff because there has been a large increase in the amount of work. The negotiations at the Chief State Solicitor's office are, hopefully, drawing to a conclusion but they have not been finalised. Representatives of the State solicitors service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have met with the State solicitors associations to discuss the offer but those matters are not completed. That has cost the office in its own right and obviously that matter will be raised. It was not just a prosecution policy unit. In a whole range of services he is looking for additional staff and that is under discussion. If that is decided or any element of it is decided, he will obviously get the resources for that.

Other than what the director has said — he has stated that he will examine the areas and that he would look at where there might be scope for giving greater information to victims of crime with regard to prosecutorial decisions — I do not think in any of these cases freedom of information would be welcomed by the DPP or his staff. It would be far too complex for that.

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